Massage apparatus.



No. 851,510. PATENTED APR. 23, 1907. G. W. FITZ & P. W. HITGHINGS,

MASSAGE APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. s, 1905.

' being adapted to impart heat to the acting same parts in all thefigures.

composed of a ho low shell 12 of metal or internally threaded socket 13for engage- UNITED STATES GEORGE FITZ,

PATENT orrron. Y

OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, AND FREDERIC vWADE HITCHINGS, OF CLEVELAND,OHIO.

MASSAGE APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 3, 1906. Serial No. 304,126.

To all whom it wtay concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE W. FITZ, of Boston, in the county of SuffolkandState of Massachusetts, and" FREDERIo WADE HITCH- INGS, of Cleveland,in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new.and useful Improvements in Massage Apparatus, of which the following isa specification.

' This invention relates to a massage apparatus, and has for its objectto enable heat and mechanical vibration -to be applied simultaneously tothe human body in the treatment of disease. The invention consists firstin an apparatus of the character specified, comprising an applicator,means for vibrating it, and means for applying heat toits actingsurface.

The invention also consists in an appiicator adapted to be attached tomechanism for vibrating it, and provided with an internal chamber orcavity adapted to contain a medium for heating its acting surface.

' The invention'also consists in an applicator provided internally witha heater, which in cludes an electrical resistance, the said heatersurface of the applicator.

Of the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisspecification,-Figure 1 represents aside elevation of a massageapparatus or vibrator, provided with an applicator embodying ourinvention. Fig. 2 represents a 1 erspective view of the applicatordetached.

ig. 3 represents a longitudinal section of the a plicator. Fig. 4represents an end view of t e same. Fig. 5 represents a section on line55 of Fi 3. ,Fig. 6 represents an end view of the e ectric heater. Fig.7 represents an enlargement of a portion of Fig. -3. Figs. 8 and 9represent sectional views of modifications.

The same letters of reference indicate the Our improved a plicator ishere shown as other suitable material, having at one end an ment withthe externally threaded end of a rod or shank 14, forming a part of thevibrating apparatus. The said apparatus may be of any suitableconstruction, such, for example, as that shown in Letters Patent of theUnited States to George W. Fitz, N 0. 795,2 12,

In the embodiment of our invention, shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive,-theshell 12 is provided with a removable end piece or head 15,

on which the socket 13 is formed, said headhaving a screw thread orother detachable connection with the body ofthe shell. VVithin the shellis an electric heater, comprising a resistance coil 16 and suitablemeans for supporting the same within the shell. The convolutions of thecoil are preferably disposed in a series of concentric layers, separatedfrom each other by annular layers 18 of sheet mica, the wire of the coilbeing continuous and extending from layer to layer through or across theintermediate separating layers 18. The resistance coil is supported by aspool, comprising a central rod or core 19, having at one end a screwthread to engage the inner portion-of the threaded socket 13, and at itsopposite end a head or enlargement, a sleeve 20, mounted on the core 19,and end pieces or heads 21, 22 afiixed to the sleeve 20. 23 rep.-resents a disc or plate, which is preferably of annular form, and ismade of insulating material, preferably of vulcanized fibre. This platesup orts two binding posts or screws 2424, W ich bear upon contactplates 25 25, affixed to the head 21, said contact plates being inelectrical connection with the terminal portions 160 of the CQll wire16. The binding posts 24 are adapted to engage flexible conducting wires26, which are enclosed in a cable 27, the latter passing through anorifice 28 in the removable end piece 15. The wires 26 are connectedwith the binding posts or screws 24. The flexible conducting wires 26are connected with a suitable source of electricity, the connectionbeing through a suitable switch, whereby the current may be turned onand off.

It will be seen that when the resistance coil is electrified, the heatdeveloped is radiated and conducted to the shell 12 so that the lat terimparts heat to the body being operated upon. This simultaneousapplication of heat and mechanical vibration is useful in the shellthrough an orifice 31, said orifice being provided with a suitablestopper 32, as shown in Fig. 8. In Fig. 9 we show an applieator adaptedto be heated externally by the impingement of a gas or other flame uponits external surfaces. In this 'case the shell is made in two sectionsseparably connected at 32,- so that the shell may be conveniently filled'th asbestos, powdered soap stone,

'sand or any other heat retaining substance.

which the resistance coil is mounted is adapted to be readily attachedto and detached from the casing of the applicator, so that the removalof the coil for examination and the substitution of a fresh coil is acomparatively simple matter. The cable 21 is preferably reinforced atthe point where it joins the easing and for a short distance adjacentthereto by a wrapping 35 of wire, as shown in Fig. 2.

The hollow applicator formed as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 may be heated bymeans of a chemical solution or composition, which is of .such naturethat heat will be generated and malntained for a considerable period bythe crystallization of a crystallizable ingredient or ingredients of thecomposition.

We believe ourselvesto be the first to provide an applicator or massageappliance with an electric heater located in close proximity to theactingsurface of the applicator. e do not, therefore, limit ourseives toan electrically heated applicator provided with means for engagementwith mechanism for vibrating it, as the applicator may be pro; videdwith means whereby it may be operated by hand.

We claim: r

1. An apparatus for the treatment of disease, comprising an applicator,means for positively vibrating it and means for applying heat to itsacting surface. I

2. An applicator having means for holding a heating medium in operativerelation to its acting surface, and means for engagement with a deviceor mechanism for positively vibrating the applicator.

3. An applicator having an electrical heater operatively related to itsacting surface, means for positively vibrating the applicator andflexible conducting wires electrically connected with the heaterand'extending therefrom.

4. An applicator having a cavity or chamber, means for vibrating theapplicator, an electrical resistance coil located in said chamber, andflexible conducting wireselectrically connected with said coil.

5. An applicator having a resistance coil operatively related to itsacting surface, means for vibrating the applicator, means includingflexible conducting wires for closing a circuit through said coil andmeans for regulating the heat developed in said coil.

6. An applicator comprising a hollow casing, means for vibrating it, anelectrical heater comprising a resistance coil adapted to enter saidcasing, and means for detachably securing the coil to the casing.

7. An applicator comprising a hollow casing, means for vibrating it, anelectrical heater comprising a resistance coil adapted to enter saidcasing, a spool or holder supporting said coil and having a core or stemdetachably engaged with the casing.

8. An applicator comprising a hollow casing meansfor vibrating it, saidcasing having a detachable end piece or head adapted for detachableconnection with the vibrating means, and a holder detachably secured tosaid head and supporting a resistance coil.

9. An applicator, comprising a hollow casing, having a detachable endpiece or head, provided with an internally threaded socket, a holderadapted to detachably engagethe said socket, and a resistance coilsupported by the holder, and means engaging saidsocket to vibrate theapplicator.

10. An applicator having an internal electrical heater, flexibleconducting wires electrically connected with the heater and ex tendingfrom the applicator, and a flexible cable enclosing the said Wires andprovided with a wire wrapping at and adjacent to its junction with theapplicator, and means for vibrating-the applicator.

11. In combination. an applicator, an electrical heater operativelyrelated to the acting surface of the applicator, and means forpositively vibrating the applicator.

12. In combination, an applicator, an elec- "tric heater operativelyrelated to its acting surface, means for positively vibrating theapplicator and heater, and flexible conduct ing wires connected with theheater and ex\ tending therefrom.

In testimony whereof we have aflixed our signatures, in presence of twowitnesses.

GEORGE W. FITZ. FREDERIC WADE HITCHINGS.

VV'tnesses to G. W. F.:

LOUISE A. REILLY, RACHEL KENT Firz.

Nit'nessesv to F W. H.:

ELISABETH 0. HAINES, MARY F. HITCHINGS.

